On October 27, 2021, the final Wednesday of the “Missionary Month,” Friar Paolo FIASCONARO, Director of the Franciscan Missionary Center of the Federazione Inter-mediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP) gave the Holy Father a copy of his new book and video. The book recounts the Missionary Center’s seven summers of service to the people of Rome amidst the city’s nightlife along the banks of the Tiber.

The Pope received the book “Friar Nightlife – Mission Possible on the Banks of the Tiber” with particular interest and curiosity. He asked some questions about the original and significant initiative of spending the evenings as Franciscans with and among the people. The Pope was informed that it all started in 2013, with “Evangelii Gaudium.” The encyclical invited the Church to go forth from its structures to the places where people might be able to experience a moment of spiritual growth. For the Missionary Center, that meant going out into the summer nightlife of the city of Rome, to the banks of the Tiber, where more than two million people pass by each year. The Pope thanked “Friar Nightlife” for this missionary service carried out in the Eternal City.
Friar Paolo was accompanied by the producer and patron of the summertime event on the Tiber, Mr. Gianni MARSILI. Mr. MARSILI invited the Pope to come by boat next summer to the docks to inaugurate the event and to have a few moments “on a summer mission” among the people.

Annamaria IACOROSSI, Secretary of the Missionary Center
Photo: © Vatican Media